Title:  The Dharmic Treasure Altar-Sutra

           of the Sixth Patriarch

Category:	Holy Scripture: The Major Buddhist Canon (3)
Total pages:	294
EnglishTranslator:	Venerable Cheng Kuan
Publication- Initiators:	AmericanaBuddhist Temple (USA), Maha-VairocanaTemple (Taiwan)
Printing House:	Sunrise Printing Co., Ltd.
Edition:	Second Edition
ISBN:	957-9373-18-3
Way of Circulation:	Not for sale. Free Gift. (You pay shipping cost only)
Availability:	Available. Welcome to make a request.
Place of Free Distribution:	AmericanaBuddhist Temple (USA), Maha-VairocanaTemple (Taiwan)
How to get a free copy:	By writing a request-letter
Foreword of the Book:	See below

 

Foreword for

The Initial Three Sutras’ Publication

ofThe Major Buddhist Canon

 

It has always been my greatest wish to translate the Right Buddha Dharma and make it available for all people in the world, so as to benefit infinite Multibeings globally;  and now I have finished translating several Sutras into English, which I entitle as The Major Buddhist Canon.  Among these, three of them--The Sutra of Forty-two Chapters, The Diamond Sutra, and The Altar-Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch--are done with page layout using PageMaker, and so are ready for publishing.  And I plan to have several thousand copies of each of them printed this time, so that we may send them as free gifts to the libraries of the capital cities of all the countries, of all the major cities, and major universities around the world.  Therefore, I wish that all good believers of the Dharma could be aspired to get involved in this supreme enterprise of the Thus-Adventist’s Dharmic Corpus by making a donation towards the publication, so as to help infinite Sentient-kinds plant the Virtuous Roots for the Supreme Enlightenment.

 

Moreover, the three Sutras that are being published are each of them in their own way, the“First Sutra.”  Here are the reasons:

 

(1) The Sutra of Forty-two Chapters--

This Sutra was brought to China in the Eastern Han Dynasty (1st Century A.D.) on the back of a white horse, and was the first Sutra ever translated into Chinese.  Hence this Sutra is deemed as “The First Sutra” in this way, and has become a very significant Sutra for this reason.  And now because this Sutra is also the first one in The English version to be published, its symbolic meaning is beyond expression.

 

(2) The Diamond Sutra--

This Sutra is one of the most important portion in the whole 600 Books of The Great Prajna-Paramita Sutra, and so in this way it stands as the “First Sutra” in the Dharma.  Furthermore, starting from the Sixth Patriarch of Ch’an Sect, this Sutra has been traditionally utilized as the chief resorting basis for “Mind-Verification” by both patriarchs and general Ch’an practitioners;  hence it is also deemed as the First Sutra by this virtue.

 

(3) The Altar-Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch--

It has been well acknowledged that the greatest contribution that Chinese Buddhism has ever made to the world is the achievement of the Ch’an teachings.  Yet it was all due to the extraordinary Merits and good Karmic Occasions of the Sixth Patriarch that made the flourish of Ch’an in China possible.  For this reason, the Altar-Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch, along with the Diamond Sutra, has become the two predominant Scriptures in the teachings of Ch’an lineage in the wake of the Sixth Patriarch.  (Since Song Dynasty though, the third Scripture, the Chronicle of Lamp-Transmission, has been added to the Ch’anist’s practicing syllabus.)  In consequence, this Sutra, besides the Diamond Sutra, is virtually the “First Sutra” for the learning and practice of Mahayana Ch’an.

 

Due to the fact that the aforesaid three Sutras are all the topmost Sutras in their own virtues, the Meritorious Virtues acquired through the involvement in helping them circulated and propagated are incredibly great.

 

Furthermore, according to The Sutra of Upaseka-Precept, the Merits in the Dharmic Bestowal of printing Sutras are highly superior.  Part of the Text from this Sutra is cited below for the reference of good believers, and for them to practice in compliance with the Holy Teachings:

 

Good virtuous man, there are two kinds of Bestowals:  first, Dharmic Bestowal;  second, Monetary Bestowal.  The Retributions acquired by Dharmic Bestowal can include the Retribution of Property and the Retribution of Dharma.  Yet Monetary Bestowal only result in the Retribution of Property….Therefore, Monetary Bestowal is inferior, while Dharmic Bestowal is superior.

 

How should one make Dharmic Bestowal?  If a Bhiksu, or a Bhiksuni, or a Upaseka, or a Upasika, is able to instruct others to make them be endowed with Faith, Precept, Bestowal, Learning, and Wisdom, either by means of making others write down the Sutra of the Buddha’s Right Dharma, or by writing it down themselves;  and afterwards they make donations with these written Scriptures to others so that they may read or incant--this is called Dharmic Bestowal.  Anyone who can make such Bestowal will be able to acquire superior handsome looks in the infinite future lives.  Wherefore is it so?  For the Multibeings who read or hear of the Dharma written will be able to abolish their mind of Resentment, for this reason the Donor will be able to obtain superior handsome looks in the infinite future lives.

 

The Multibeings who read or hear of the Dharma written will be able to abolish killing due to compassion;  for this reason the Donor will be able to acquire longevity in the infinite future lives.

 

The Multibeings who read or hear of the Dharma written will be able to refrain from stealing others’ property;  for this reason the Donor will be able to enjoy copious riches and treasure.

 

The Multibeings who read or hear of the Dharma written will be able to make Bestowals to others with an open mind;   for this reason the Donor will be able to obtain great physical strength in the infinite future lives.

 

The Multibeings who read or hear of the Dharma written will be able to abolish Self-indulgence;  for this reason the Donor will be able to obtain physical ease and felicity in the infinite future lives.

 

The Multibeings who read or hear of the Dharma written will be able to exterminate the mind of Inanity; for this reason the Donor will be able to acquire Unimpeded Eloquence in the infinite future lives.

 

The Multibeings who read or hear of the Dharma written will be able to engender Faith without any doubts;   for this reason the Donor will be able to acquire Faith and Perspicuity in the Mind.  And in the like manner he will be able to acquire Precept, Bestowal, Learning, and Wisdom, as well.  (--from Segment 19 of TheSutra of Upaseka Precept.)

 

Cheng Kuan

 2/19/2005